History of MOOS



MOOS Space, MOOS Garden, or just MOOS, is a communal living, working, and event space dedicated to urban experimentation with an extended network of partners. MOOS (pronounced ‘moss’) can be thought of as an urban village, located next to Treptower Park in south-east Berlin, bordering the neighbourhoods of Alt-Treptow and Plänterwald. MOOS has also been called "a community of communities".

MOOS is situated in a 19th century brick stone building complex of a former bathtub factory. This post-industrial site was extended in 2021 by two recently finished structures, Neubau (the new building) and Halle (the hall), purposely built to host residencies, studios, and events.

MOOS is home to The Y Berlin, an incubator for regenerative economic concepts, space-making, community building, creative practices and paradigm shifting projects, that speak to a hopeful future.

We welcome artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, community weavers, mystics, thinkers and doers from around the world for 1-3 month visits during which time they help build our community, collaborate and pursue what is calling them. The Y Berlin is currently exploring possibilities surrounding the development of a community-tech and design lab, so stay tuned!

A 2023 third-party case study on MOOS.

The Historic Site

The post-industrial site of the former bathtub factory Moosdorf & Hochhäusler was bought by Willem Klunder and Julia Wolfrum in 2012. They founded MOOS.Space in the same year and govern it via the Klunder & Wolfrum GbR. Moos.Space is now home to about 160 people, 20 small businesses, non-profit organisations, collectives, projects, and their extended networks. The various initiatives deal with: 

• Social issues, such as the support of disenfranchised children and youth in need (Karuna Berlin), sea rescue and support for refugees in acute need (Sea-Watch)
• Education, such as the platform for independent journalism Buzzard and Edible Alchemy, promoting diverse food preparation techniques and knowledge about the local flora
• Sustainable agriculture and regional development, such as Ostmost, PLAN B and Letzte Generation
• Regenerative finance, hosting residencies for nodes and organisations, such as Funding the Commons, Cohere Network, Oasa, Regens Unite, Hackerhouse, Feytopia, Gitcoin Schelling Point and Regen Tribe among others.

The Bridge :: DG

The Bridge, also known as DG, is our community-centric project living space, embodying a blend of functionality and warmth. This sanctuary boasts seven rooms, alongside dedicated workshop spaces, meeting rooms, and versatile mini-pods, all underlined by the natural beauty of wood-beam ceilings and abundant glass to welcome natural light.

The Bridge is designed to support both large gatherings and intimate organizational retreats, featuring spaces that cater to diverse needs, from catering facilities to areas for quiet contemplation. The use of unfinished wood and lots of greenery, paired with gentle, subtle lighting, ensures a welcoming atmosphere that adapts seamlessly to the changing dynamics of day and night. The Bridge is a testament to the balance between creativity, community, and a grounded sense of place.

The Tower :: Neubau

The Moos Tower project is a co-housing and working initiative aimed at creating meaningful spaces, which foster ideation around regenerative futures amidst global crises. Moos Tower is situated in the recently completed building, often simply referred to as "Neubau".

The Tower was purpose built as a communal living and working area for private use, hosting residencies, artist studios and other projects. The building consists of a multipurpose 280sm2 space on the ground floor (referred to as "the hall", or, in German "die Halle") and 400sqm2 of co-living area above, reachable via a flight of stairs.

The Tower's co-living area includes nine bedrooms, two living rooms, five shared and two private bathrooms, a large shared kitchen and dining area, as well as a laundry and utility room. All bedrooms are furnished and include a bed and night table, a desk, shelf, and wardrobe. Most rooms have private balconies. There are two shared terraces for residents to enjoy, one of them features a lush urban garden on the rooftop. The entire house has large windows and is equipped with luxurious plants, which contribute to its unique atmosphere.

Tower serves as civic infrastructure for transdisciplinary research and collective action. The Tower residency program is a key component of a broader project to establish accessible living spaces, along with its studio and exhibition areas.

The Portal :: Halle

The ground floor of the Tower includes three spaces, a workshop, a storage space and the main hall itself. The hall is a work in progress and enables a large set of set-ups, scenarios, and use cases. Currently, MOOS uses it as its community space to gather, work, create and play.

Ready to join or support MOOS? Check out our Vybes.